methyl aminolevulinate hydrochloride at a glance
Medicine class
Topical photosensitising antineoplastic agent
Licensed uses
Selected actinic keratoses, basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinoma in situ in adults
Administration
Applied to prepared lesions and activated using clinic-selected red light, natural daylight or artificial daylight
Important allergy
The cream contains arachis oil and must not be used with peanut or soya allergy
What is methyl aminolevulinate hydrochloride used for?
Licensed uses in adults include:
Thin, non-thickened and non-pigmented actinic keratoses on the face or scalp.
Superficial or nodular basal cell carcinoma when other available treatments are unsuitable because of treatment-related morbidity or likely cosmetic outcome.
Squamous cell carcinoma in situ, also called Bowen’s disease, when surgical excision is considered less appropriate.
How does methyl aminolevulinate hydrochloride work?
Skin cells convert methyl aminolevulinate into photoactive porphyrins, including protoporphyrin IX. Suitable light and oxygen then produce reactive oxygen species that damage cellular structures in illuminated target cells.
methyl aminolevulinate hydrochloride preparations and strengths
Cream
Route: Cutaneous
Strengths: 160 mg/g
How to take methyl aminolevulinate hydrochloride
This cream is part of specialist photodynamic therapy. Do not swallow it or apply it independently unless your treating team has given specific instructions.
A trained professional prepares the lesion by removing scale or crust and roughening its surface.
Keep the cream away from the eyes, eyelids and mucous membranes.
Wear protective goggles when a red-light lamp is used.
For natural-daylight treatment, use only sunscreen recommended by the clinic; physical filters such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide can interfere with visible light.
After treatment, avoid rubbing or scratching the area and follow the clinic’s wound-care and sun-protection instructions.
methyl aminolevulinate hydrochloride side effects
Common or expected effects
- Pain or burning at treated skin, particularly with red-light treatment
- Redness, scabbing, swelling or warmth
- Blistering, itching, peeling, weeping or ulceration
- Tingling or numbness
- Bleeding after lesion preparation
- Headache or feeling hot
Get urgent medical advice
- Swelling of the face, tongue or throat, or breathing difficulty
- New confusion, disorientation or temporary memory loss during or after red-light treatment
- Severe pain during red-light illumination
- Increasing redness, swelling, discharge or excessive weeping that may indicate infection
methyl aminolevulinate hydrochloride in pregnancy
Methyl aminolevulinate is not recommended during pregnancy because human information is limited and animal studies identified reproductive toxicity. Tell the specialist if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or could become pregnant before treatment.
methyl aminolevulinate hydrochloride while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether methyl aminolevulinate or its metabolites enter breast milk, and risk to a breastfed child cannot be excluded. The specialist should weigh the benefits of treatment and breastfeeding before deciding whether treatment or breastfeeding should be paused.
methyl aminolevulinate hydrochloride interactions
Formal interaction studies have not been performed. Important treatment-related considerations include:
Ultraviolet phototherapy
UV therapy should be stopped before methyl aminolevulinate photodynamic therapy; coordinate this with the treating specialist.
Immunosuppressants, including systemic corticosteroids or ciclosporin
Experience is limited in immunosuppressed transplant recipients, so inform the dermatology team and arrange closer response monitoring.
Physical-filter sunscreens containing zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or iron oxide
These can block visible light and reduce natural-daylight treatment effectiveness; use only the clinic-recommended sunscreen.
Common questions about methyl aminolevulinate hydrochloride
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is methyl aminolevulinate hydrochloride used for?
It is used with photodynamic therapy for selected actinic keratoses, basal cell carcinomas and Bowen’s disease in adults.
Why does methyl aminolevulinate hydrochloride need light activation?
The cream creates light-sensitive porphyrins inside target cells. Suitable light activates them to produce reactive oxygen species that damage those cells.
Can methyl aminolevulinate hydrochloride be used at home?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.